It was not easy for Caiaphas, the high priest, to manipulate things to get Jesus killed. The top Jewish Council, the Sanhedrin, of which he was president, could not itself exact the death penalty.  Caiaphas had to find compelling charges against Jesus that would carry the death penalty both from the Roman governor under Roman law (eg sedition), and also from the Sanhedrin under Jewish law (eg blasphemy). But the testimony from witnesses was unconvincing, and the accused was exercising his right to silence. The only hope for Caiaphas was to get Jesus to incriminate himself.   

Jesus obliged (vs 63b,64). He declared under oath to the leaders of God’s people that he was far more exalted than their ideas of ‘Messiah’ and ‘Son of God’. He was (and is) the divine ‘son of man’ of Daniel 7:9–14, coming on the clouds of heaven to the throne of God to be served by all the world and to reign with glory, authority and an everlasting dominion that will not pass away.    

This was a far better ‘confession’ than Caiaphas could have imagined! He got his ‘blasphemy’ verdict (vs 65,66). Jesus then suffered further indignities (vs 67,68). The one we worship is no stranger to humiliation, injustice and brutality.  

Lord, thank you that you are a God of justice. Open my eyes to see those areas of our world where injustice flourishes and how Christians can bring change.  

Jesus faces the mockery of a trial alone. His disciples have fled; Peter follows and watches from a distance but offers no help. The trial seems to have taken place quickly, presided over by the high priest at his house with the Sanhedrin already assembled. Sanhedrin regulations, however, decreed that criminal cases should be tried during daytime and at their own meeting place in the Temple precinct. No criminal trials should occur during Passover. This trial seemingly involved multiple violations of Jewish law.

Two witnesses, examined separately, were required to make compatible allegations. We don’t know how many futile attempts were made, as the Sanhedrin scoured for evidence. Eventually, two people attested that Jesus claimed he could destroy and rebuild the Temple in three days. This was a distortion, both of his prophecy and about his own death and resurrection on the third day. Jesus chose to remain silent before the lies. 

Following the next question, Jesus might have walked away a free man if he had remained silent or denied he was the Messiah. Saying ‘yes’, invited the charge of blasphemy and a sentence of execution. Yet his answer went even further. He quoted Daniel 7:13 and applied its account of the triumph and glorification of the Messiah to himself. Jesus knew full well what he was doing. The high priest’s symbolic garment-tearing and the court’s violent scorn confirmed the death penalty. The injustice Jesus faced has been echoed in the lives of his followers through the ages. A reminder of that frenzy and hatred, accompanying the rejection of Christ as God’s anointed one, faces so many of his faithful witnesses in the persecuted church today.

What sort of injustice and oppression might we have to face as the price for staying faithful to Jesus? Pray now for protection and courage to stand firm.